When the time trials were over at the rainy World Finals of the Red Bull Pump Track World Championships in Springdale, Arkansas (USA), all was still right with the world. A BMX rider was in the lead ahead of a mountain biker. There were also roughly the same number of athletes on 20-inch and 26-inch bikes in the other places. There was a flying start, the riders took a running start and shot over the start line at full speed. The situation was different in the knockout round, where two riders battled it out after a standing start. It was merciless: The BMXers simply pick up speed faster. Both the men's and women's finals took place between two BMX athletes.
This didn't suit Claudio Caluori, whose company Velosolutions organizes the world series. He promised to change the starting procedure back in the winter while he was preparing for the Red Bull Pump Track World Championships 2019. The head-to-head races will now also be started on the fly. Although two athletes ride against each other, only the time from the start to the finish line counts. "Even with a flying start, one BMXer was the fastest in Springdale," remarks David Graf and you can tell that he is not afraid of the new mode - even though he will not be confronted with it until the world finals in November as an already qualified athlete.

The world champion looks on

The BMX pro is in Stuttgart preparing for the next World Cup race in Paris at the beginning of June and will therefore only be watching from afar to see who comes out on top in Gempen. "I've seen that a few BMX colleagues have signed up. I hope they qualify for the final." The four fastest women and men have a starting place at the World Finals. But only the winner of the day will travel there at the organizer's expense.
Defending champion Christa von Niederhäusern will be there in Gempen - to cheer on her brother and other colleagues and because she was invited by Velosolutions. Her focus is on the BMX World Cup, which she has returned to after two years of injury. "But I will be at the pump track world finals and will also be preparing for them. Last year's event was so cool!"
The location and date of the grand finale have not yet been decided, reports Claudio Caluori. David Graf has been assured that it won't take place until November because the top BMX riders' season doesn't end until October. The organizers are therefore not taking the opportunity to make it a little easier for the mountain bikers to win by date. So the question remains open until the end as to whether the world's fastest pumper accelerates 20 or 26 inches.